Minnesota Vikings defensive end Scott Crichton gets a chest full of running back Matt Asiata during drills on the third day of training camp at Minnesota State University in Mankato on Sunday, July 27, 2014. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)

For years, there was regular banter between Scott Crichton and his father, Lucky.

Even as Crichton was developing into a top football player, Lucky Crichton continued to remind him that his father once had been a better athlete. Crichton’s response usually was a roll of his eyes.

“He would keep saying that, but I never believed him,” Crichton said with a laugh. “He would think he was faster than me when he was in his prime; but it’s nonsense.”

Perhaps it was the defensive end running down quarterbacks the past three seasons at Oregon State, getting 22-1/2 sacks. Maybe it was Crichton being taken in the third round of the NFL draft in May by the Vikings.

Regardless, Lucky Crichton finally has backed off his boasting.

“I was pretty good in sports when I was growing up, and I always told my son that he got that from me,” said Lucky Crichton, who played basketball, volleyball and rugby in his native Western Samoa. “I always kidded with him. But now I have to say I think he runs just a little bit faster than I did.”

Crichton’s speed will be on display when the Vikings play their first preseason game Friday against Oakland at TCF Bank Stadium. Lucky Crichton will be at the game along with Crichton’s mother, Malama, his two brothers, his sister and an uncle.

Lucky Crichton, 61, had his left leg amputated 22 years ago and is battling a number of health problems. It’s not easy for him to get around, but he wouldn’t miss his son’s debut for anything.

“It’s pretty difficult for me to walk,” he said. “But I’m really excited (for the game). I’m happy. We all support (Scott). I love my son, and I hope he can do well in the NFL.”

Crichton, 22, is close to his parents, both of whom had left Western Samoa behind by the late 1980s to live in Tacoma, Wash. His love for them was evident in January when Crichton opted to forego his college senior season to enter the NFL draft.

Lucky Crichton had just suffered a heart attack and had to take a leave from his job driving a forklift at a warehouse. His mother had been working two jobs as a nursing assistant at two retirement homes. And Crichton’s grandfather, Sila Salanoa, who lived with the family, was ailing; he died in February at age 90.

“My family was struggling,” Crichton said of going to the NFL. “We didn’t have a lot, but we always had each other. I thought I should take the responsibility to take care of my family, and this would be the best opportunity.”

Lucky Crichton remembers when his son broke the news to him.

“I was in the hospital (following the heart attack), and my son came in and told me he was going to go to the NFL,” Lucky Crichton said. “I was hoping that he would finish his senior year, but it was his decision. He told me that he loved me, and he told me not to come back to work.”

Lucky Crichton was a police officer in Western Samoa but had trouble the past two decades finding work because of his health problems. He said he initially didn’t want to quit his job, but now realizes it’s for the best.

Lucky Crichton lost his leg in 1992 when a cancerous tumor was found. Now he wears a prosthesis. In addition to heart issues, he has diabetes, high cholesterol and kidney problems.

“All these health problems I have makes me feel sad, but I try to live day by day and just enjoy life,” he said, adding that his son’s football success has helped in that area.

Malama Crichton, 59, is known for her work ethic, too. She did give up one of her jobs, but she is still getting up at 4:30 a.m. each day for the other one.

Malama Crichton also hoped their son would return for his senior year. But Crichton, who is 15 hours short of graduating, has made a vow to her to finish his degree in human development and family sciences.

“I want to work,” she said of keeping one job. “I don’t want to have to depend on Scott. I told Scott that the NFL is not a sure thing, so I just tell him, ‘Save your money and work hard and see what happens.’ But we are all very proud of him. He is a very humble kid.”

Crichton signed a four-year, $3 million contract with a $656,324 signing bonus. He has no problem providing a good bit of that money to his family.

“Family is No. 1,” he said. “We’re a tight unit, and I probably speak for a lot of Polynesians. It’s usually family over anything. … When my grandfather passed away, the funeral was back (in Western Samoa), and we had a lot of money that was used.”

It remains to be seen how many Vikings games Crichton’s parents, his twin brothers, Darryl and Derek, 25, and his sister RaeAnn, 26, will be able to attend this season. Regardless, there could be plenty to see this season with Crichton.

Many observers believe he should have been drafted higher than the No. 72 overall pick. Crichton said the Pittsburgh Steelers told him they planned to take him in the second round, but instead they took Notre Dame defensive end Stephon Tuitt at No. 46. Crichton said the Steelers passed on him because of a medical situation he wouldn’t name.

The Vikings haven’t had any issues with Crichton. Despite him being forced to miss a month of spring drills while he completed studies at Oregon State, Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said he could end up being in the rotation on the defensive line.

“I love the kid,” Zimmer said. “He’s a yes-sir, no-sir kid, hard worker, goes to the whistle all the time, and it’s important to him. All those kind of guys we like here.”

Vikings defensive end Brian Robison, an eight-year veteran, has taken Crichton under his wing. Robison said he’s “so talented” and calls him a “valuable asset” to the Vikings.

“I just come to work every day, and I want to be a big contributor to this team,” Crichton said. “I’m confident that I can get in the rotation and just help this team get to the Super Bowl.”

For now, Crichton is excited about family members coming to Friday’s game. He has no regrets about leaving college a year early to help them.

“I just feel relieved,” he said. “It’s kind of like a burden off my chest. I always wanted to do something for my family, especially for my parents. They worked so hard to get me where I am today.”

Chris joined the Pioneer Press in 2013 to cover the Vikings. He was a longtime NBA writer with the Akron Beacon Journal, Rocky Mountain News and AOL FanHouse. Before coming to Minnesota, he covered the Miami Heat and Dolphins for Fox Sports. Chris has won six awards in the past three Pro Football Writers of America contests. Chris is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he spent his college years watching the losingest team in the history of Division I-A football.

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